Himeka2015 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

For those who are so close-minded that they don't see the metaphor: The Maples- Black people The Oaks-White people The theme of this song is segregation

jrussell99 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

There are plenty of metaphors in the song for anyone with an imagination - oppression, suppression, the maples (Canadians) upset with socialistic threats, etc. But Neil Peart himself has saiad that he simply got the idea from a popular comic strip from that time featuring trees talking to each other and arguing. That's the beauty of Rush's music. It challenges the imagination of a lot of geeks and nerds of the world thus all the varying opinions and interpretations.

01spock01 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Does anyone not understand the metaphor? I am extremely literal and I get it. It is not socialist. It says they are treated equal, not anything else. "kept equal, by hatchet ax and saw." So they are treated equal, but they still have differences, i.e. different types of trees. In the macabre realm, they are all equal because they die. So in the end, we all die, sad but true. This is what it means to me. Any other ideas?

inbound1000 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

man they were smokeing something good when they wrote this song..haaahh trees talking to each other

superunt43 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@aakkoin My bad, I meant "humans", LMAO

superunt43 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@aakkoin Kinda like those who think "Red Barchetta" is literally about a car. Yes I know, drives me insane as well?

superunt43 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@Thefred334 Well you could, shed the bark off what you call a weiner?

superunt43 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

@aakkoin Males

ALFTUBE50 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

There really is only one plausible interpretation, and it is very general. The message: political power favors the voice that shouts the loudest, regardless of how abhorrent the demands of that voice are.